‘We got guys who want to be here’: Blue Jackets’ Fantilli looks back on Marchenko trade

Clearly, the Kirill Marchenko trade is still at the front of the minds of those who were connected.

Ahead of their matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night, Columbus Blue Jackets forward Adam Fantilli was asked about the return of his former teammate. Fantilli was very blunt about his thoughts on Marchenko’s desire to leave Columbus.

“Happy we got guys who want to be here,” Fantilli said. “It would have been a nightmare having a guy that didn’t want to be here all year. I’m glad we got that trade done when we did.”

Prior to the 2026-27 season, Marchenko requested a trade from the Blue Jackets, with some wondering if a deal would get done before the regular season began. On the eve of the new campaign, Columbus general manager Don Waddell worked a blockbuster trade with the Maple Leafs, sending Marchenko, goaltender Elvis Merzlikins and forward Miles Wood to Toronto in exchange for Matthew Knies and Steven Lorentz, defenseman Emil Andrae, and a conditional 2027 second-round draft pick.

The move has certainly paid off for the Maple Leafs. Marchenko has scored four goals and six assists for 10 points through the team’s first 10 games of the season, good for third on the Leafs in each category. While the Blue Jackets are off to a bumpy start, Knies came out guns-a-blazing, scoring two goals and three points in his debut with the team, but has been held off the scoresheet in the last five contests.

It was certainly interesting to hear Fantilli’s words following morning skate on Tuesday, given the fact that Marchenko wasn’t the only one who had wanted out of Ohio this past summer. Star defenseman Zach Werenski also asked for a trade. However, the Norris Trophy winner walked back his trade request, assuring his intentions to stay with the Blue Jackets for the long haul.

Puck drop between the Leafs (4-4-2) and Jackets (3-4-0) in Columbus is scheduled for a little after 7 p.m. ET.